Kohli slams racial abuse towards India players as ‘pathetic’ as he calls for strict action

Virat Kohli has demanded strict action against the spectators who were ejected from the Sydney Cricket Ground during India‘s third Test against Australia.

The proceedings were marred by allegations of racial abuse towards some of the Indian players throughout days three and four of the Test, leaving Kohli furious.

The Indian captain, who is back home on paternity leave, took to Twitter to label the incidents as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘pathetic’, and has called on Cricket Australia and the ICC to treat it with ‘absolute urgency’ and ‘seriousness’.

India captain Virat Kohli expressed his fury after players were abused in Test against Australia

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah made it known to the umpire on day three of incidents that occurred on the boundary, and the bowlers, along with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, confronted Cricket Australia officials at the end of play.

But more incidents followed on day four, and Siraj reported it to the umpire and pointed to a section of the crowd near where he had been fielding at fine leg. 

Police and security guards were called in and later escorted six people from the stadium, as play was held up for almost 10 minutes.

Cricket Australia has now launched an investigation, and Kohli has asked called on officials to ‘set things straight’.

 

 

‘The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once,’ Kohli said on Twitter. 

That responsibility looks to be falling on the shoulders of Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity and Security Sean Carroll, who has insisted it will be dealt with. 

‘The abuse of cricketers by crowd members is not acceptable,’ he said. ‘We thank the Indian team for their vigilance in reporting today’s incident, which we are now in the process of investigating. 

‘It is most regrettable that an otherwise excellent Test match contested in tremendous spirit by two friendly rivals has been tarnished by the actions of a small number of spectators over the past two days.

‘As hosts, we once again apologise to the Indian team.’

India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane reported the racial abuse incidents to the umpires

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is no stranger to sledging and abuse from Australia cricket spectators, but he said this was one step too far.  

‘They have been quite nasty, they have been hurling abuses as well, but this is the time they have gone one step ahead and used racial abuse,’ all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin told Sky Sports. 

‘It is definitely not acceptable in this day and age. We have seen a lot, right? We have evolved as a society. This must be definitely dealt with an iron fist. And we must make sure that it doesn’t happen again. 

‘Unless and until it is dealt with, people don’t find the reason to look at it in a different way. 

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says the crowd went one step too far in their abuse